Connelly Early’s big league unveiling proved startlingly impressive. Just over two years removed from being drafted by the Red Sox in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, the 23-year-old delivered one of the most dominant debuts in club history Tuesday night.
In five scoreless innings of a win over the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif., the lefthander’s 11 strikeouts tied a 48-year-old team record by a pitcher in his first big league appearance (matching Don Aase’s debut in 1977). His 19 swings-and-misses were more than any Sox pitcher not named Garrett Crochet in a single appearance this year.
The performance was more than anyone with the Red Sox had dreamed of when the team drafted him.
Read Alex Speier's full story on Early's speedy development at Globe.com/Sports | 
